Sarah Sullivan Sherrod on 'And, Repeat'
In And, Repeat, Sarah Sullivan Sherrod’s colorful acrylic paintings draw on the historic lineage of centuries-old weaving patterns and techniques while inflecting it with contemporary improvisation. Sarah embraces the slowness inherent in the weaving process as a form of resistance in an increasingly fast-paced world. Weaving on a loom becomes a meditative act, a way to connect with the past while pushing the medium forward and honoring its legacy as both a form of technology and a mode of communication.
Weaving allows me to slow down in the face of an increasingly fast-paced world. In that slowness, I go further back in time. This collection uses traditional weaving patterns as the basis for improvisation and experimentation. The combination of historical designs with my contemporary reality continues the ancient lineage of weaving as a form of communication.
Sarah Sullivan Sherrod
In a world that is constantly speeding up, it is deliberate that I have chosen such a slow medium. As the future arrives at a record pace, I spend my days going further back in time. I weave as a means of staying connected with the past. When I work, I feel tied to the whole abundant history of weaving. This collection introduces new weave structures into my work - patterns that are rooted in more traditional designs.
Sarah Sullivan Sherrod
Within those historical parameters, I allow myself to improvise. I stretch and bend and distort the guidelines. I find ways to modernize this ancient method of communication. I am driven by the slow meditative action, with little to no knowledge of the final outcome. This also feels like a resistance. Modern technology wants to deliver answers as fast as possible with little thought to process.
Sarah Sullivan Sherrod
The color choices invite the viewer to slow down with me. There’s a calm yet buzzing energy. Like when a quiet moment in nature slowly brings into focus the sounds and sights of a bustling ecosystem. Relaxing can be exciting. Work can be meditative. History informs the future. These things are not diametrically opposed. But only by slowing down can we take the time to balance.
Sarah Sullivan Sherrod
